An Overview of Female Sexual Function Treatment
Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are the hormones responsible for regulating a woman’s menstrual cycle, mood and sex drive. When these naturally-occurring hormones begin to dwindle down before, during and after menopause, healthy female sexual function can also taper off. Low estrogen during menopause causes women to experience more than hot flashes and mood swings. It also causes females to suffer from vaginal dryness, burning and itching. If you live in the communities of Plano, Frisco and Dallas, Texas and suffer from troublesome vaginal changes related to menopause, please contact the team at Mona Lisa Partners to discuss MonaLisa Touch™ as a female sexual function treatment.
How Hormones Affect Female Sexual Function
Hormones are defined as chemicals produced by glands and organs that act as messengers throughout the human body. There are a wide number of hormones found in the body that control body functions.
A woman’s sex drive is believed to be controlled by these hormones:
- Estrogen- Estrogen is the primary hormone found in the female body and it regulates the menstrual cycle, sex organs and thickens the lining of the uterus to support pregnancy. Low estrogen during menopause can have a huge impact on female sexual function. Women often experience moderate to severe vaginal dryness that leads to painful intercourse.
- Progesterone- Progesterone also helps control the menstrual cycle and supports pregnancy. During menopause, this hormone also declines. Researchers are still determining the full impact on this hormone and women’s sexual health.
- Testosterone- Testosterone is also found in the female body, not just the male body. This hormone is actually used to help produce more estrogen. Certain studies have reported that higher levels of testosterone are associated with increased sexual desire and drive in women.
How to Treat Sexual Symptoms Associated with Low Estrogen During Menopause
Not every older woman experiences decreased female sexual function during the numerous stages of menopause, but many do. If a woman does experience sexual symptoms associated with low estrogen during menopause, such as painful intercourse and vaginal dryness, there are various female sexual function treatments available, including:
- Hormone therapy
- Topical estrogen
- Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants
- Laser vaginal rejuvenation
A popular laser vaginal rejuvenation system is MonaLisa Touch. MonaLisa Touch is an in-office, non-surgical treatment that utilizes a controlled CO2 laser system to deliver energy to unhealthy vaginal tissue. The laser energy is designed to revitalize the vaginal tissue cells so they increase collagen production. The additional collagen helps alleviate painful vaginal dryness, itching and burning.
MonaLisa Touch is performed in-office by one of the Mona Lisa Partners’ team members. The female sexual function treatment is virtually pain-free, with only some patients reporting discomfort the first time the probe is inserted in the vaginal canal. The majority of patients will experience alleviated dryness in only three treatments, with each treatment spaced six weeks apart.
To learn more about the connection between low estrogen during menopause and MonaLisa Touch™ as a female sexual dysfunction treatment, contact the Plano, Frisco and Dallas, Texas office of Mona Lisa Partners.
